This month was challenging for me on several levels. Gratitude is one of the things that got me through.
1. Grateful to Be Resilient
I started working out pretty intensely in mid-January, after finding out I gained 10 pounds since Summer 2020. But, if you saw the Instagram post, you know that backfired:
For more context, I was doing more than one HIIT workout every day, sometimes a full hour, plus running at sub-9:00 pace for 3.5-6 miles 3x per week, plus yoga, bike riding, and strength training. I would under-eat all day then after working out everything went out the window because I felt so hungry. After 6 weeks of this, I could barely move, and felt tired all the time. My second HIIT workout one night, I stopped after 52 of 60 minutes because my muscles physically wouldn’t move anymore. I even caught a cold (just a bacterial infection, not COVID!). Worse, I had put on 5 extra pounds, which the doctor said was normal but nonetheless was distressing.
After being sidelined for 2 weeks with Over-Exertion Syndrome, I lost the 5 extra pounds, and that made me even more depressed. Why even bother with fitness? Did it even work? What had I worked so hard for?
I work out for my sanity, not my vanity.
~Jaime Pressly
Fortunately, I found that inspirational quote from famously-fit actress Jaime Pressly that changed my mindset. Instead of maniacally pushing myself to work out more and harder, then over-compensating by stuffing trail mix and pizza, I realized at the end of my 2 week sideline that I wanted to work out. It makes me happy, focused, and is something I look forward to!
I’ve bounced back, and after 2 weeks of sensibly working out again and a clean diet of fruits, vegetables and vegan smoothies I’ve lost 3.5 pounds of the original 10. Better than that… I feel energetic, confident, and happy with myself again.
2. Grateful for This Spring of All Springs
Spring is my favorite season, hands down. It’s the rainy days with intermittent sun, realizing it’s still light out when you’re done with work, the first scents of flowers in the air, and dressing in layers in case the wind gets chilly.
March always feels like a Great Awakening, where people come out of hiding, events start happening, people feel inspired. Never more so than Spring 2021! Instead of being shut away all winter, though, this Spring people are starting to come out again that have been inside for a whole year.
People are getting vaccinated, including people in my home, businesses are starting to open at lower capacity, and Eventbrite is sending me notifications that live events are happening locally. Comedy shows, yoga classes, silent disco, socially conscious networking, writers groups… I am SO excited to get vaccinated and enjoy a real Spring!!!!
3. Grateful to Do What I Love… For Fun
Turns out, the “I do it for my sanity, not my vanity” quote really applies to everything in my life!
- I took time away from social media, including deactivating a personal Facebook account in January, re-starting a new Twitter, and stepping back from Instagram. As a result, I lost a lot of engagement and followers, and most notably lost sponsors and income stream on Instagram. When I realized I have these accounts because I love to talk about becoming more socially conscious, I was suddenly less distressed about that and regained a level of passion for social sharing!
- Same for this blog: It’s time-consuming and I don’t have nearly as many posts as I would like, and same for my YouTube channel. I realized, I do it because I love it, not necessarily because I expect everyone to see it. Suddenly getting in and writing in the evenings after work or while sitting outside on a Saturday afternoon doesn’t seem like a chore, it’s a joy.
- Looks like it might be time to re-emerge with SoCon Networking, too. I did it because I loved it, but COVID put an end to in-person meetings and the last thing people seemed to want was more Zoom appointments at their homes. It seemed pretty hopeless. Now I’d like to make meetings happen in-person with emphasis on building social connection among like-minded people. It’s my passion and I still have some time to figure it out logistically before everyone is vaxxed. Plus, I can now afford to make it free until 2022!!